New Mexico has a big problem providing resources to people with mental illness.

New Mexico has a big problem providing resources to people with mental illness.

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Updated: 10:02 PM MDT Jul 26, 2015

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WEBVTT COMING TO THE STATE'S CRISIS HOTLINE. IT TAKES ABOUT 3 1/2 SECONDS TO JUMP OFF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. MEGAN: KEVIN HINES KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WANT TO GIVE UP ON LIFE. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE AT THE AGE OF 19, I JUMPED. SANDRA: HE SURVIVED THAT JUMP, AND GOT THE HELP HE NEEDED. NOW HE IS REACHING OUT TO NEW MEXICANS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED. HERE IN NEW MEXICO, YOU'LL FIND THAT SUPPORT AT THE NEW MEXICO CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE. I THINK EVERY NEW MEXICO FAMILY EITHER KNOWS SOMEBODY, OR IS RELATED TO SOMEBODY WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SANDRA: THE GOVERNOR HAS PLEDGED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO EXPAND SERVICES AT THE NEW MEXICO CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE. ONE OF THE NEW FEATURES, A PEER LINE THAT WILL ALLOW CALLERS TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THEIR SHOES. SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WORK THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH AND KNOW ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO THROUGH THAT. SANDRA: THE NUMBER OF CALLS TO THE HOTLINE HAVE SPIKED FROM 160-CALLS A MONTH TWO YEARS AGO, TO 1500 JUST LAST MONTH. THE NEW MEXICO CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE HAS ANSWERED 30,000 CALLS SINCE IT LAUNCHED IN 2013. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CALLS HAVE BEEN FOR ANXIETY, FOLLOWED BY SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, AND DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. BY EXPANDING THE SERVICES, THE HOPE IS THAT EVEN MORE PEOPLE WILL CALL FOR HELP. YOU CAN REACH THEM IN ABOUT 3

Helping the Mentally Ill: Expanding the Crisis Hotline

New Mexico has a big problem providing resources to people with mental illness.